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The best TT system for under 30K
Hi agoners!
I have been floored by Kuzma Stabi XL DC with 4 points TA on a recent audition. It was extremely analog sounding, insane details with speed, beat and clarity that made me wonder if I am listening to a live concert, just can’t help my toe tapping. Was comparing the sound to the top of the line Accuphase CD player with the same rest of system and it was no contest.
Switching from Accuphase CD player to Kuzma XL DC was sounding like adding a pair of subwoofer and going up 2-3 levels on the rest of the system. Mind you the rest of the system was Accuphase E-650 class A integrated that should favor the Accuphase same brand CD player but that wasn’t the case. The speaker was Kerr Acoustics K300 under 10K entry level bookshelf and the sound of the entire entry level system armed with Kuzma XL DC beat the hell out of the entire super high end system the dealer has on the other listening room with Avalon PM3 speakers, Accuphase A-250 monos, Audionet Stern Preamp with Accuphase CD player.
However obviously I cannot afford the whole set of Kuzma XL DC considering I am also in the process of upgrading my existing system. What will be the closest contender in the US$30.000 retail price range that has the same sonic signature as Kuzma XL DC?
Thanks in advance for any advices!!
I have been floored by Kuzma Stabi XL DC with 4 points TA on a recent audition. It was extremely analog sounding, insane details with speed, beat and clarity that made me wonder if I am listening to a live concert, just can’t help my toe tapping. Was comparing the sound to the top of the line Accuphase CD player with the same rest of system and it was no contest.
Switching from Accuphase CD player to Kuzma XL DC was sounding like adding a pair of subwoofer and going up 2-3 levels on the rest of the system. Mind you the rest of the system was Accuphase E-650 class A integrated that should favor the Accuphase same brand CD player but that wasn’t the case. The speaker was Kerr Acoustics K300 under 10K entry level bookshelf and the sound of the entire entry level system armed with Kuzma XL DC beat the hell out of the entire super high end system the dealer has on the other listening room with Avalon PM3 speakers, Accuphase A-250 monos, Audionet Stern Preamp with Accuphase CD player.
However obviously I cannot afford the whole set of Kuzma XL DC considering I am also in the process of upgrading my existing system. What will be the closest contender in the US$30.000 retail price range that has the same sonic signature as Kuzma XL DC?
Thanks in advance for any advices!!
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- 205 posts total
Plugged into my C22 I have to crank the volume to 12 o'clock position for any decent volume, mismatched gain? The sound however was night and day, it's a lot more real and improvement was everywhere, background was pitch black, even my very shy tweeter started to sing, low level listening and dynamic was only ok though. Don't get me wrong, the improvement by adding Kuzma to my C22 + MC75 was supremely major, maybe I was just a bit too critical. One thing for sure though, the gain mismatch is a major pain and I think it affect a lot in negative way. I then switched to Accuphase E-650 (dang this thing is heavy) with the Kuzma DC XL still with the same SF Guarneri Evolution speakers and everything immediately opens up. I can hear again another major improvement in every factor especially speed, dynamics and low level listening suddenly became insanely nice. I can hear every detail, punch and nuances even at a very low level of volume. I haven't got the chance to really test it with normal listening level (75-85db for me) because my wife fell asleep and I pissed her enough already by having the nice technician until 11 pm, she had to sleep in the kid's room only to move to our bedroom after the tech left, off course I did all the Covid protocol before and after. But dang she was really pissed....LOL...I'll let her sleep it off. |
uwiikz Plugged into my C22 I have to crank the volume to 12 o'clock position for any decent volume, mismatched gain? The sound however was night and day, it's a lot more real and improvement was everywhere, background was pitch black ...As long as your preamp can drive your amplifier to maximum or desired output, the position of the preamp's gain control is irrelevant. |
- 205 posts total